Protective student desk

ABSTRACT

A protective student desk may include a set of base elements, a set of legs attached to the set of base elements, a desktop pivotably attached to the set of legs, and a panel connected to the set of base elements and attached to the set of legs. The protective student desk may provide a full body protective shield and be bullet resistant.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/862,416, filed Aug. 5, 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to student desks and, more particularly, to student desks and the safety of the student.

Currently, with student deaths on the rise, there has been some concern about student safety while at school. Current student desks provide very little to no safety for a student if a situation arises that involves shooting or other acts of violence. Most desks are made from wood, plastic and the like.

As can be seen, there is a need for a student desk that provides protection when violent acts occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a protective student desk comprises: a set of base elements having a bottom side and a top side; a set of legs having a front side, wherein the set of legs attach to the top side of the set of base elements; a desktop having a first end, pivotably attached to the set of legs; and a panel having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the panel connects to the set of base elements, wherein the panel attaches to the front side of the set of legs.

In another aspect of the present invention, a protective student desk comprises: a set of base elements having a bottom side and a top side; a set of legs having a front side, wherein the set of legs attach to the top side of the set of base elements; a desktop having a first end, pivotably attached to the set of legs, wherein a notched section runs along the first end of the desktop; and a panel having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the panel connects to the set of base elements, wherein the panel attaches to the front side of the set of legs, wherein a notched section runs along the second end, wherein the first end f the panel has a set of cutouts.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with the desktop oriented in the safety configuration;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with the desktop oriented in the safety configuration;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with the desktop oriented in the safety configuration; and

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a protective student desk that may include a set of base elements, a set of legs attached to the set of base elements, a desktop pivotably attached to the set of legs, and a panel connected to the set of base elements and attached to the set of legs. The protective student desk may provide a full body protective shield and be bullet resistant.

As is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the protective student desk 10 may include a desktop 12, a panel 14, a set of legs 16 and a set of base elements 18. The set of base elements 18 may be set against the ground in certain embodiments. A plurality of feet 22 may be attached to a bottom side of the set of base elements 18 in order to not damage the floor and to provide a more stable positioning. The set of legs 16 may attach to a top side of the set of base elements 18. The set of legs 16 may also be attached to the desktop 12.

The desktop 12 may be attached to the set of legs 16 by a pivot system. The pivot system may include a set of pivots 20 and a set of pivot brackets 21. The desktop 12 may have a flat top surface. A first end of the desktop 12 may have a notched section running along the first end. A set of locking rods 28 may be connected to the set of pivot brackets 21 along a bottom side of the desktop 12. A locking mechanism 26 may be positioned between and attached to each locking rod 28. Connected to the locking mechanism 26 may be a guide handle with spring 30. The pivot system may allow for the desktop 12 to be rotated from an approximately horizontal angle to an approximately vertical angle.

The panel 14 may be connected to the set of base elements 18 and to the set of legs 16. The panel 14 may have a first end and a second end. The panel 14 may attach to a front side of the set of legs 16 through mounting bolts 24 or the like. The first end of the panel 14 may have a set of cutouts 15. The set of cutouts 15 may be positioned around the set of base elements 18, thereby limiting the space exposed along the panel 14. The second end of the panel 14 may have notched section running along the second end. The notched section of the panel 14 and the notched section of the desktop 12 may be oriented so that when both may be in the approximately vertical position, the notched sections may engage with each other. When engaged, the notched sections may provide a roughly flat even surface along a front side of the protective student desk 10.

A method of using the protective student desk 10 may include the following. When in use for school work, the desktop 12 may be in the approximately horizontal position. The locking mechanism 26 may be in a locked position so that the desktop 12 may be secured in position. In a situation where there may be danger, the desktop 12 may be rotated in the approximately vertical position. A user, such as a student 32, may unlock the locking mechanism 26 which may allow the desktop 12 to rotate. The desktop 12 may be rotated into an approximately vertical position where the desktop 12 may connect with the panel 14. Both notched sections may align so that they fit flush against each other. Once the desktop 12 and the panel 14 may be aligned, the locking mechanism 26 may be set so that the protective student desk 10 may stay in the approximately vertical position. The locking mechanism 26 may be controlled by the guide handle with spring 30. Movement of the guide handle with spring 30 may allow the locking rods 28 to move so that the desktop 12 may pivot along the pivots 20. Once assembled, the desktop 12 of the protective student desk 10 may be easily tilted so that the protective student desk 10 may be positioned to create a barricade to protect the student. The student 32 may have protection from the floor to the top of the desktop 12 in the approximately vertical position allowing for a full body protective shield as shown in FIG. 7. The protective student desk 10 may be bullet resistant. Material used for the desktop 12 and the panel 14 may be polycarbonate or the like.

An example of a situation where the present invention may be used may be if a school has a lock-down situation. A teacher and the students 32 may be able to tilt the desktop 12 and position themselves behind the rear side of the protective student desk 10 to create a safe place. The barricade may protect the student 32 from such things as bullets and the like. When not in some type of lock-down situation, the protective student desk may act as a standard desk for school studies.

In alternate embodiments, a plurality of wheels may be attached to the bottom side of the set of base elements 18. Lamination of the desktop 12 may be added. Different sizes may be available for the invention along with different colors or patterns to be placed on the top of the desktop 12.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective student desk comprising: a set of base elements having a bottom side and a top side; a set of legs having a front side, wherein the set of legs attach to the top side of the set of base elements; a desktop having a first end, pivotably attached to the set of legs; and a panel having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the panel connects to the set of base elements, wherein the panel attaches to the front side of the set of legs.
 2. The protective student desk of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of feet attached to the bottom side of the set of base elements.
 3. The protective student desk of claim 1, wherein a notched section runs along the first end of the desktop.
 4. The protective student desk of claim 1, further comprising a set of cutouts on the first end of the panel.
 5. The protective student desk of claim 1, wherein a notched section runs along the second end of the panel.
 6. The protective student desk of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of wheels attached to the bottom side of the set of base elements.
 7. The protective student desk of claim 1, wherein the material is bullet resistant.
 8. A protective student desk comprising: a set of base elements having a bottom side and a top side; a set of legs having a front side, wherein the set of legs attach to the top side of the set of base elements; a desktop having a first end, pivotably attached to the set of legs, wherein a notched section runs along the first end of the desktop; and a panel having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the panel connects to the set of base elements, wherein the panel attaches to the front side of the set of legs, wherein a notched section runs along the second end, wherein the first end f the panel has a set of cutouts.
 9. The protective student desk of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of wheels attached to the bottom side of the set of base elements.
 10. The protective student desk of claim 8, wherein the material is bullet resistant. 